"Have they bought it?" - Shiv Sena and NCP opposes renaming of Mumbai airport to Adani Airport

According to reports, Shiv Sena workers on Monday, August 2, allegedly vandalized and then removed the brand logo of Adani Group displayed near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj near the airport in Mumbai.

Members of Shiv Sena workers union Bhartiya Kamgar Sena (BKS) damaged the boards naming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) as “Adani Airport” claiming the company was trying to change the name of the airport.

On Monday afternoon, August 2, a group of 15 to 20 workers marched with sticks and damaged the signboard before completely removing it amid slogans.

Shiv Sena and NCP, members of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, said that they have opposed renaming the Mumbai airport after the Adani Group.

BKS president and Sena Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant said the attempt to change the name of the airport will not be tolerated. This is nothing but an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he further added.

Slamming the name change proposal, NCP leader Nawab Malik said that the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport's name has been given by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) earlier and was managed by GVK. Now, Adani has taken over the stake of GVK and became co-owners of the Airport. However, it's doesn't mean that they have to name the airport with their own name.

"This move is hurting the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra, as well as of the country. The Airport Authority's VIP gate has also been renamed by Adani which is not tolerable. Have they bought it? They have to take precautions to avoid problems in the future," he was quoted by ANI.

Meanwhile, the Adani Group released a statement clarifying that it was merely replacing the previous branding. They also said that no changes were made to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s branding or positioning at the terminal.

According to reports, in July this year, Adani Group took over the management of the Mumbai International Airport from the control of the GVK Group. Thereafter, the Adani Group controls a 74 per cent stake in Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.